Lexical Definition

‎βασανίζω‎ basanízō (bas-an-id'-zo) to torture: torture ^G:V
from ‎βάσανος‎

pain, toil, torment, toss, vex.

• to torture

Abbott-Smith

βασανίζω (< βάσανος), [in LXX: I Ki 5:3, Si 4:17, and freq. in Wi, II, IV Mac;]

1. prop., to rub on the touchstone, put to the test.
2. to examine by torture, hence, generally, to torture, torment, distress: Mt 8:6, 29 14:24, Mk 5:7 6:48, Lk 8:28, II Pe 2:8, Re 9:5 11:10 12:2 14:10 20:10.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

βασανίζω-ίζω,

Attic dialect future -ῐῶ[Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist ἐβασάνισα, subjunctive βασανίσω variant in [Refs] —passive, aorist ἐβασανίσθην: perfect βεβασάνισμαι:—rub upon the touch-stone (βάσανος), χρυσόν [Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence, put to the test, prove, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; investigate scientifically, [Refs 5th c.BC+] of the instances used in inductive inference, ἀπὸ τῶν πανταχόθεν βεβασανισμένων [μεταβαίνομεν] [Refs 1st c.BC+]

__II of persons, examine closely, cross-question, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; βεβασανισμένος εἰς δικαιοσύνην having his love of justice put to the test, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὑπὸ δακρύων βασανίζεσθαι, i.e. to be convicted of being painted by tears (washing off the cosmetic), [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 question by applying torture, torture, rack (see. βάσανοςIII), [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be put to the torture, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; to be tortured by disease (censured by [NT+2nd c.AD+]; of animals, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: metaphorically of the earth,[Refs]
__II.3 metaphorically of style, strain, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]forced, unnatural, [Refs 1st c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Matt.8.6}